The 2A Express

The Weekly Roundup

The 2A Express

The Weekly Roundup

Week Fifteen....

International Week has always been an ASD highlight each year, and I can now see why!

Spread over four days of this week 2A has had the opportunity to be immersed in a myriad of cultures, languages, national dress, and of course food (the highlight for many of the students in 2A).

The theme this year was "One Tribe". A chance to outline that everyone is connected as one. This is true at every level. From the world, as a country, as a community and as a classroom. 2A are still learning what it means to be one tribe, how to get along with others in their groups and classroom. Practicing how to make responsible decisions for themselves, and their group and how it could impact others in their community of learners and friends. As I mentioned to 2A this morning, they will one day be leaders within communities, even world leaders, and they need to be ready to make decisions that will bring people together, not divide them, with an aim to bring, not just their communities together, but the world together as "One Tribe".

This week 2A continues to move forward on their Geometry and Fractions unit and are looking at a range of factors that cause the weather to change. We are closer to completing our nonfiction reading and writing units, and are on track (most of us!) to present these before we depart for our vacation break.

Please take the time to look through the bulletin, click on the images of your child engaged in learning and feel free to contact me with any queries or issues that may arise.

2A's International Week in Images

The Fourteenth Week

The Subjects

Math

This week has seen 2A continue to investigate the attributes of a range of polygons and now looking closely at equal parts of a shape. Partitioning shapes into equal portions called fractions.

We have been working with halves, thirds and fourths.

We will continue to strengthen our understanding of parallel lines and fractions up until our winter break.

After the winter break we will be spending the first week investigating Time.

If you were looking forward to the accompanying YouTube clips from Duane Habecker to support home learning, unfortunately he has not produced any for this unit yet. As soon as these become available i will link these for your perusal.

Using Pattern Blocks to Identify Fractions

Reader's Workshop

This week our readers continue reading a range of nonfiction books.

Readers were thinking and talking about how information can be both the same and different. They noticed together how both mentor books had information about where tigers live and kinds of tigers, but the information was presented differently.

Next they read independently across a topic and finally, during share time, they presented what they’d noticed in their own books.

Below is a slide presentation of the text features that we will be identifying and looking to understand. These text features are also the key elements when it comes to our new writing unit.

Writer's Workshop

This was a week spent putting the final touches (for most students!) on our informational books.

Students were using a check-list to reflect on their own writing and helping their partners make sure that if revisions were necessary and additional information needed.

Students learned about topic-specific language (lingo) and made sure to use these expert words in their text and sharing time.

Once editing was completed, students spent time adding their illustrations, diagrams and collecting images from the internet. This exercise of taking an image from the internet, allowed us to discuss how we can provide credit to the photographers who took these photos that we are using. citing the sites where we found them and adding this to our books.

2A is looking forward to the final publishing stage and presenting their books to a wider audience. It's been very interesting to see their growth as writers.

These finished nonfiction books will be emailed home in PDF form and presented to our audience in our buddy class.

Revising Our Drafted Nonfiction Books with a Partner

Science

This week the 2A scientists learned about the relationship between air and temperature.

2A investigated this relationship, making a connection that temperature is related to how warm or cold the air is.

We looked carefully at the tool that is used for measuring air, the thermometer. We are focusing on the measuring of temperature using Celsius, using appropriate language to further discuss which range of temperatures are considered hot, warm, cold, and freezing.

Next week 2A is investigating moving air, also known as wind. This will see the students utilizing the Beaufort Wind Scale. Attached is a a graphic that explains the Beaufort Wind Scale.

Investigating Temperature Using Thermometers

Exploratory Time

This week 2A started a new team design challenge.

Their team challenge is to design the tallest free standing structure that they can using only 6 sheets of chart paper.

They were given one piece to look at what they can do with it and start formulating design plans so that next week they can make a model and then test it.

It should be a very challenging task!

Stay tuned!

Defining the problem and Planning Solutions

In Other News.....

2A Participated in the Hour of Code

This week 2A participated in the annual Hour of Code.

This is an initiative that promotes computer science in schools. it is not just about learning how to code (writing in computer language), but additionally, learning how computers work.

Computer science teaches kids to think logically, be creative and exposes them early to the technology that will drive their future. Learning computer science also opens the door to high-demand jobs. By 2020, 4.6 million of 9.2 million science, technology, engineering and math jobs will be in computing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2A had a great time coding with a Minecraft simulator.

The links to a variety of coding activities can be found below if your child would like to continue coding at home. I have also attached the video if you would like to gain a greater understanding of the importance of computer science.

Coding During the Hour of Code

Things To Know:

2A Pizza Party with our Elementary Principals on Tuesday!

We are very fortunate to have an opportunity to have a pizza party with our Elementary Principals, Lana Al Aghbar and Mindy Martin on Tuesday, December 15th at 12:10PM!

A huge thank you to Joann Warren for bidding on this prize at a charity fundraiser earlier in the year!

The students of 2A will be told on Monday. With lunch being provided on Tuesday you can send your child with the usual snack items, but they are most welcome to eat their own lunch if they would prefer. I don't know if there is a child in 2A that would pass up the opportunity to munch on pizza during a school day!

2A is very lucky to have a pizza party as well as our Winter Celebration next week. This is a great way to end the first part of the year and reward ourselves for the hard work we have done so far.

It should be a great week!

Full Tuesday Schedules on December 15 and January 5th

We would like to remind you that Tuesday, December 15 and Tuesday, January 5th will be full school days with dismissal at 3 pm for students in KG – Grade 12.

This is to make up for the lost day (instructional time) on November 25.

Tuesday After School Activity Pick Up

Parents picking up students from After School Activities on Tuesdays should enter through Gate 8.

A kind reminder to all parents to bring and display your ASD Dragon Card at all times while on campus.

Arab Mothers Association Fundraising Activities

The Arab Mothers Association fundraisers will be hosted every second Thursday of each month.